Washing machine

ABSTRACT

A washing machine of the type including a cylindrical drum rotatable in at least one direction about a horizontal axis and including at least one hollow in transverse-cross section rib projecting radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall of the drum and extending longitudinally of the drum, the rib defining in cooperation with a portion of the drum wall a longitudinallyextending passage and the portions of the rib defining the passage, other than a longitudinally-extending rib portion adjacent the drum wall, being imperforate.

United States Patent [1 1 [111 3,715,898 Olliges, Sr. Feb. 13, 1973 [541 WASHING MACHINE 3,247,690 4 1966 Kahn [75 Inventor: James R. Olliges, Sr., River Grove, 111. 3,604,221 9 1971 Pellerin ..68/58 [73] Assignee: A-TO,Inc.,Willoughby, Ohio Primary Examiner-William 1. Price Flledl April 1971 AttorneyW. R. Hulbert 1 .N .1 1 ,54 [2 1 Appl 33 6 57 ABSTRACT [52] U S Cl 68/145 68/208 A washing machine of the type including a cylindrical drum mtatable in at least one direction about a [51] Int. Cl. ..D06137/06, D06f 37/08 horizontal axis and including at least one hollow in [58] Field of Search ..68/58, 139, 140,141, 142,

68/143 144 I45 146 transverse-cross section rib pro ecting radially mwardly from the cylindrical wall of the drum and extending longitudinally of the drum, the rib defining in [56] References C cooperation with a portion of the drum wall a longitu- UNITED STATES PATENTS dinall y-extending passage and the portions of the rib defining the passage, other than a longitudinally-ex- 2,243,325 5/1941 Windell ..68/S8 tending rib portion adjacent the drum wall, being im- 2,404,450 7/1946 Meyer ....68/144 X f t 3,608,338 9/1971 Lutzen ..68/l45 2,800,786 7/1957 Schang ..68/l45 X 13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEB 13 ms 3,715,898

SHEET 2 [1F 2 WASHING MACHINE This invention relates to washing machines and, more particularly, to machines of the type including a substantially cylindrical drum mounted for horizontal rotation about its axis.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide for improved, automatic and continuous recirculation of the wash liquid within the machine, thereby improving washing action. Other objects include making possible, in machines which rotate in either direction, removal of liquid from the machine other than through clothes at the bottom of the drum, simplifying injection of water into and increasing the speed at which liquid may be drained from the drum, and eliminating the need for expensive and complex liquid recirculation apparatus.

The invention features, in a washing machine of the type including a cylindrical drum which is rotatable in at least one direction about a horizontal axis, and having at least one longitudinally-extending rib, hollow in transverse cross-section and projecting radially inward from the cylindrical wall of the drum and extending longitudinally of the drum, the rib defining in cooperation with a portion of the drum wall a longitudinally-extending passage, other than a longitudinally-extending portion adjacent the drum wall being imperforate. In preferred embodiments in which at least three ribs having longitudinally-extending, V-shaped in transverse cross-section, walls are circumferentially spaced about the drum wall with the apex of each V-shaped wall projecting radially inwardly, there is featured a longitudinally-extending imperforate divider dividing each rib into two passages, one edge of the divider being secured to the drum wall and the other edge of the divider being secured along the rib apex, and a plurality of perforations through each of the longitudinally-extending portions of the V-shaped wall adjacent the drum wall.

Other objects, features, and advantages will appear from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, taken together with the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section taken at line 1-1 of FIG. 2, of a washing machine embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an end sectional view of the machine of FIG. 1, taken at line 2--2 of FIG. 1; and,

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partially in section, of portions of the machine of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an industrial washing machine, generally designated 10, comprising a watertight, substantially cylindrical, single shell drum 12 mounted so that it may be rotated in either direction about its horizontal axis. Doors (not shown) are provided in the cylindrical wall 14 of the drum to permit laundry to be put into and removed therefrom. Four ribs 16, circumferentially spaced at 90 intervals, extend the full length of drum l2 and project radially inwardly from wall 14. One end 18 of the drum is sealed to be watertight. The other end 20 is sealed except for opening 30 in each partition. The periphery of each opening engages the outer wall of the rib passing therethrough.

Drum 18 also includes an inlet assembly including a rectangular duct 32 extending diametrically of end wall 20 and substantially triangular ducts, designated 34, 36, respectively, extending longitudinally along drum wall 14 from each end of duct 32. As shown, duct 34 extends from wall 20 through and a short distance beyond partition 23. Openings 38 in the wall of duct 34 on either side of partition 23 permit liquid to flow through the inlet assembly into compartments 26 and 27. Similarly, duct 36 extends 'from end wall 20, through partitions 23 and 24 and thence through and a slight distance beyond partition 25. Openings (not shown) in duct 36 on either side of partition 25 permit flow into compartments 28 and 29.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the portion of drum 14 adjacent end wall 20 defines a radially outwardly-facing circumferential channel and is fitted within the cylindrical mouth of a wet box 74. As shown, wet box 74 consists of a single piece of molded plastic and includes a cylindrical side wall 76 and a substantially flat end wall 78. A radially-inwardly facing circumferential groove 80 is provided in side wall 76 adjacent the end thereof farthest from end wall 78. Two openings extend through end wall 78--central opening 82, which is defined in part by an annular projection 84 including an inwardly facing circumferential groove 86, and drain opening 88, which is connected by a pipe 89 to weir 90. A drain line 92, controlled by a valve 94, extends from the bottom of weir 90.

A hollow trunnion 96 extends axially of machine from an opening 97 in drum end wall 20 communicating with duct 32 of the inlet assembly, through opening 82. A rotary joint assembly 98 is provided to attach trunnion 96 to a fixed water supply pipe 100.

An inflatable torroidal seal 102, mounted in groove 80 and engaging channel 70, seals the rotating joint between wet box 74 and drum 14. A second inflatable torroidal seal 104 seated in groove 86 and engaging trunnion 96, seals opening 82.

As shown most clearly in FIG. 3, each rib 16 is substantially V-shaped in transverse cross-section. An imperforate partition 46 midway between the diverging walls 47, 48 of the V divides the rib into two longitudinally-extending passages. The apex of the V projects radially inwardly of the drum. The outer longitudinal edges 52, 54 of walls 47, 48, spaced from the V apex, are secured to drum wall 14. One longitudinallyextending edge 58 of partition 46 similarly is secured to wall 14 of drum 16 midway between the edges 52, 54. The other edge 56 of partition 46 is secured to the inner surface of walls 47, 48 at the apex of the V." Walls 47 and 48 are imperforate except for a longitudinally-extending portion 60 of each, adjacent to cylindrical drum wall 14 and approximately one-fourth of the respective wall 47, 48 in width. Each portion 60 includes regularly spaced openings 49 extending through the respective wall. Strengthening rods 62, placed regularly along the length of each rib, are secured to the outer rib walls and the rib 's dividing partition.

In operation, wash liquid is injected into the drum through ducts 32, 34 and 36 of the inlet assembly after the articles to be washed have been placed in each drum compartment. The liquid fills each of the compartments and wet box 74 to the same level, and also fills weir 90. Ribs 16 provide for communication between the compartments inter se and also between the compartments and wet box. Drum 12 is rotated during washing, and the circumferential spacing of the ribs insures that at leastone rib will always be submerged in the liquid.

As the drum rotates (for example in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2), each rib 16 is in turn filled with liquid while it is submerged, and is then lifted out of the liquid in the direction of rotation. As the liquid-filled rib is by rotation raised out of the liquid, the liquid captured in the lower passage of the rib (between partition 46 and trailing wall 48 drains back into the drum compartments through the performations 49 in wall 48). Most of the liquid in the upper passage in the rib, between partition 46 and leading wall 47, is captured in the rib and, rather than being discharged back into drum l4, flows from the end of the rib into wet box 74. Although this discharge tends to cause the level of liquid in wet box 74 to rise, liquid is free to flow back into drum 14 through the submerged ones of ribs 16 and the water level in the drum compartments and wet box remains constant. Thus, during drum rotation, there is circulation of liquid from the wash compartments of drum l2 and into the wet box through an elevated rib 16, and back into the drum through a submerged rib.

When a washing cycle is complete, dump valve 94 is opened, emptying weir 90 and causing liquid to drain from drum 14 into wet box 74 through ribs 16, and thence to drain line 92 through pipe 89 and weir 90. Rotation of the drum is continued during draining so that substantial amount of the liquid in the drum is discharged into wet box 74 by flow through an elevated rib, rather than all the liquid being withdrawn through the submerged ribs and clothing at the bottom of the drum.

In some applications, it is desirable to omit the injector assembly and inject liquid into drum 14 through the wet box and ribs.

The'symmetrical (about partition 46) design of each rib 16 permits drum 14 to be rotated in either direction during washing. When the drum is rotated in a counterclockwise direction (as seen in FIG. 2) the liquid captured in the passage defined by partition 46 and wall 47 drains back into the drum compartments through the perforations 49 in wall 47. The liquid in the passage defined by partition 46 and wall 48 is captured in the rib passage and flows from the end of the rib into wet box 74, causing the desired continuous circulation.

Other embodiments within the scope of the following claims will occur to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. In a washing machine of the type comprising a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation in at least one direction about a horizontal axis, and at least one hollow in transverse cross-section rib projecting radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall of said drum and extending longitudinally of said drum, said rib defining in cooperation with said drum cylindrical wall a longitudinally-extending rib passage, that improvement wherein:

said rib includes an interior imperforate wall dividing the interior of said rib into a pair of longitudinallyextending rib passages;

each of said pair of passages is defined in part by a longitudinally-extending side wall of said rib;

all portions of said rib and of said drum cylindrical wall defining each of said pair of passages other than said rib side walls are wholly imperforate and sealingly interconnected;

each of said side walls defines flow means providing for liquid flow into and from a respective one of said pair of passages through a longitudinally extending flow area, said flow area extending inwardly from said drum cylindrical wall and having a width of not more than one-half the width of the respective one of said side walls; and,

each of said side walls is otherwise wholly imperforate.

2. The machine of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls includes a longitudinally-extending perforate portion adjacent and extending inwardly from said drum wall.

3. The machine of claim 2 including an end plate closing one end of said drum and wherein each of said ribs communicates with a respective opening in said closure.

4. The machine of claim 3 including at least one axial wall intermediate the length of said drum dividing said drum into at least two axially-spaced compartments, and wherein said rib communicates with an opening in said axial wall, thereby permitting flow of liquid between said compartments through said rib.

5. The machine of claim 4 including at least three circumferentially spaced, substantially identical ribs and an end wall closing an end of said drum, each of said ribs communicating with a respective opening in said axial wall and with a respective opening in said closure.

6. The machine of claim 1 wherein said interior wall and said side walls are relatively diverging and are sealingly connected along a longitudinally-extending apex portion of said rib, said apex portion being spaced radially inwardly from said drum wall and the imperforate portion of each of said side walls extending from said apex portion toward said drum wall.

7. The machine of claim 6 wherein each of said side walls extends from said apex portion to said drum wall and includes a longitudinally-extending perforate portion adjacent and extending inwardly from said drum wall.

8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the perforate portion of each of said side walls has a width in the range of A to k the total width of said side wall.

9. The machine of claim 1 including a sealing assembly engaging one end of said drum, said sealing assembly including a cylindrical wall portion defining an inwardly-facing annular recess, and an annular resilient sealing member mounted in said recess and sealingly engaging a circumferential wall portion of said drum adjacent said one end.

10. The machine of claim 9 wherein said sealing assembly includes a base wall defining a cylindrical opening extending therethrough and, an inwardly-facing annular recess in the cylindrical wall of said opening, said cylindrical wall portion projects generally perpendicular to said base wall substantially coaxially with said 13. The machine of claim 9 including an end wall sealing said one end of said drum, said end wall and said sealing assembly cooperating to define a chamber therebetween, and said rib communicates with an opening in said end wall thereby permitting flow of liquid between said rib and said chamber.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 12mm! H HIME (H (10K REC'IiON Patent 3,715,898 Dated February 13, 1973 Inventor(s) James R Olliges Sr.

It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Correct the assignee A--TO, Inc. to read -A-T-O Inc.---;

Column claim 8, line 5 4, after "said" insert -each--.

Signed and sealed this 27th dayof November 1973.

(SEAL) Attestz EDWARD P 'I.FLETCHER,JR.

Acting Commissioner of Patents.

USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 mnuo OFFICE Ion o-ass-au.

* U45. GOVERNMENT PR 

1. In a washing machine of the type comprising a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation in at least one direction about a horizontal axis, and at least one hollow in transverse crosssection rib projecting radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall of said drum and extending longitudinally of said drum, said rib defining in cooperation with said drum cylindrical wall a longitudinally-extending rib passage, that improvement wherein: said rib includes an interior imperforate wall dividing the interior of said rib into a pair of longitudinally-extending rib passages; each of said pair of passages is defined in part by a longitudinally-extending side wall of said rib; all portions of said rib and of said drum cylindrical wall defining each of said pair of passages other than said rib side walls are wholly imperforate and sealingly interconnected; each of said side walls defines flow means providing for liquid flow into and from a respective one of said pair of passages through a longitudinally extending flow area, said flow area extending inwardly from said drum cylindrical wall and having a width of not more than one-half the width of the respective one of said side walls; and, each of said side walls is otherwise wholly imperforate.
 1. In a washing machine of the type comprising a cylindrical drum mounted for rotation in at least one direction about a horizontal axis, and at least one hollow in transverse cross-section rib projecting radially inwardly from the cylindrical wall of said drum and extending longitudinally of said drum, said rib defining in cooperation with said drum cylindrical wall a longitudinally-extending rib passage, that improvement wherein: said rib includes an interior imperforate wall dividing the interior of said rib into a pair of longitudinally-extending rib passages; each of said pair of passages is defined in part by a longitudinally-extending side wall of said rib; all portions of said rib and of said drum cylindrical wall defining each of said pair of passages other than said rib side walls are wholly imperforate and sealingly interconnected; each of said side walls defines flow means providing for liquid flow into and from a respective one of said pair of passages through a longitudinally extending flow area, said flow area extending inwardly from said drum cylindrical wall and having a width of not more than one-half the width of the respective one of said side walls; and, each of said side walls is otherwise wholly imperforate.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein each of said side walls includes a longitudinally-extending perforate portion adjacent and extending inwardly from said drum wall.
 3. The machine of claim 2 including an end plate closing one end of said drum and wherein each of said ribs communicates with a respective opening in said closure.
 4. The machine of claim 3 including at least one axial wall intermediate the length of said drum dividing said drum into at least two axially-spaced compartments, and wherein said rib communicates with an opening in said axial wall, thereby permitting flow of liquid between said compartments through said rib.
 5. The machine of claim 4 including at least three circumferentially spaced, substantially identical ribs and an end wall closing an end of said drum, each of said ribs communicating with a respective opening in said axial wall and with a respective opening in said closure.
 6. The machine of claim 1 wherein said interior wall and said side walls are relatively diverging and are sealingly connected along a longitudinally-extending apex portion of said rib, said apex portion being spaced radially inwardly from said drum wall and the imperforate portion of each of said side walls extending from said apex portion toward said drum wall.
 7. The machine of claim 6 wherein each of said side walls extends from said apex portion to said drum wall and includes a longitudinally-extending perforate portion adjacent and extending inwardly from said drum wall.
 8. The machine of claim 7 wherein the perforate portion of each of said side walls has a width in the range of 1/4 to 1/2 the total width of said side wall.
 9. The machine of claim 1 including a sealing assembly engaging one end of said drum, said sealing assembly including a cylindrical wall portion defining an inwardly-facing annular recess, and an annular resilient sealing member mounted in said recess and sealingly engaging a circumferential wall portion of said drum adjacent said one end.
 10. The machine of claim 9 wherein said sealing assembly includes a base wall defining a cylindrical opening extending therethrough and, an inwardly-facing annular recess in the cylindrical wall of said opening, said cylindrical wall portion projects generally perpendicular to said base wall substantially coaxially with said opening, and said assembly includes additionally an annular sealing member mounted in said recess of said opening.
 11. The machine of claim 10 wherein said sealing members comprise inflatable torroids.
 12. The machine of claim 10 wherein said base wall and said cylindrical wall portion are respective portions of a unitary member of organic plastic. 